Naturally: Straphangers Frustrated By Weekend Subway Diversions

Photograph by Harris Graber on Flickr

With 18 of 20 subway lines experiencing (suffering) diversions, due to the NYC Transit's necessary track work, subway riders have had to be patient. And it's a rude awakening for some people: One told WCBS 2, "That seems like a lot at one time - 18 out of 20 - so very inconvenient for a lot of people. I'm new to New York, I don't know if this is a regular thing." Welcome to New York, buddy!

Another stressed out straphanger—a 23-year-old Williamsburg resident—told the Post, "The MTA just sucks. I was late for my class this morning because of a delay I didn't know about." But a Queens resident who had paid attention to the many signs warning of issues said to WCBS 2, "It just meant I had to leave the house earlier this morning. Now I have to walk six blocks out of my way, and hopefully get out at the stop I need in the Village - unless something is screwed up down there."

Here are today's subway diversions—luckily, it looks nice outside, so maybe it's time to stroll a bit too.

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By Jen Chung in News on October 11, 2009 9:35 AM

Comments [rss]

JMH

The information was there for all to see. It's the Williamsburg idiot's own damn fault that he didn't know what was going on.

silver

Just stop all maintenance and repairs, then abandon subway lines when they become too dangerous to let riders in legally. No more weekend service changes.

Steven

What do you expect from weekends? Trains don't run as often and there is always some sort of construction going on.

Splicer

For travel nightmares, try living in N.E. Queens. Thank goodness for the express bus.

babyhitler

Or you can take advantage of the newly installed bike lane miles and lax weekend traffic and perfect riding weather to ride your bike to the city at a leisurely place like I did. no complaints about the MTA.

Kevin Bracken

As an L train rider, it would be impossible to be screwed harder than we used to be. At some points the L train would simply not run on the weekends for the better part of two years. The alternative was sometimes a bus that ran once an hour, or the J train, which is not really close the L at all if you don't live in Williamsburg.

But these service disruptions helped north Brooklyn develop its own culture and shake the "east east village" rep by forcing us to deal with ourselves.

Anyway, yeah it sucks when the trains don't run but I hardly noticed this weekend.

thelexiphane

All of this track work is a real calamity. The disruptions, delays and diversions. For anyone who lives more than 3 stops outside of Manhattan, this is what's known as "regular weekend service."

As for this taking by someone by surprise, that's the fault of a rider's own obliviousness. The MTA does send out email alerts to notify riders of scheduled track maintenance and service disruptions, if you bother to sign up for them. Barring that, the platforms are all plastered with signs about upcoming service changes.

Check Trips123 b/f leaving the house and budget extra time if you need to be someplace punctually. It's hardly rocket science. Although I do feel bad for tourists who are probably completely frustrated and confused.

Snoopy

We never had this problem until all those geese started showing up. They along with all the shit left behind by the carriage horse trade have left this city in turmoil.